Design Patriot

These boots are made for...

2012-03-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

My husband found a pair of boots that he fell in love with at a thrift store. Worn, but with much life left in them, he brought them home. Upon further inspection we discovered they were Made in America! They are Chippewa, and although we are just learning about them they have been around for over a century.
Chippewa Boots was founded in October 1901 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The name comes from the Indian tribe of the region. The company's mission from day one was to manufacture the finest boots and shoes in the United States. It employed 175 employees, mainly women, and produced 1,200 pairs daily.
Chippewa was one of the first outdoor boot manufacturers to offer ladies outdoor boots. It was also the first footwear manufacturer to use Vibram® outsoles, which were imported from Italy at the time. The continued use of Vibram® outsoles is consistent with Chippewa's commitment to the utilization of quality components.
I just can't believe we didn't know about them sooner! Whether you are a hiker, a biker, a worker, or you just like how they look. Chippewa has a boot made for you.

More than Beautiful

2012-03-04T13:20:00.001-08:00

According to Kalon Studio's website, "The name Kalon is derived from the ancient Greek concept of ‘to kalon.’ To be kalon is more than being beautiful; it is having a beauty that both is and inspires excellence." And their pieces live up to that name. Their smart, thoughtfully designed pieces are minimal and timeless.
And Kalon Studio's commitment to sustainability is unmatched. Their finishes are people-friendly, non-toxic and food-safe. Their materials are eco-friendly, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable, and sustainably forested. Their production is low waste and energy efficient. Their products are made domestically and by hand. You can feel good about filling your baby's nursery with these thoughtful, environmentally responsible pieces. And the quality is such that these can become heirlooms in your family.

NPR Talks to Keen Shoes

2012-02-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block.
ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:
And I'm Robert Siegel.
President Obama wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Insourcing was a theme of his State of the Union message. And we're going to hear now from a CEO who opened a plant in this country recently.
James Curleigh runs Keen - K-E-E-N - the Portland, Oregon, company that makes footwear, bags and socks. Welcome to the program.
JAMES CURLEIGH: Hi, nice to talk to you.
SIEGEL: And in 2010, you opened a plant in Portland to make work boots. I read that it employs 30 people. I want you to run us through a bit of the calculus that made you decide to open domestically rather than, say, in China.
CURLEIGH: Sure. I mean, we're an 8-year-old company, born in this century. So we looked at all the technical dimensions that we deal with - and that can be areas like duty rates; it can be transportation costs; it can be intellectual property; it can be development costs. And when you put it all together, and you look at it in the context of what we need for our business and our brand and our products, from a costing perspective it starts to make sense.
But the broader picture is looking at the dynamics, what's happening over in Asia and other parts of the world, where we see labor rates increasing at a significant rate. We also see vertical integration of our factories being closer linked to commodities and materials that basically, tie us into some deals that might not be in the best interest of our product build, or our product business.
SIEGEL: But you still make most of your footwear in Asia. Does this logic change that? Or should we expect to see some of that production, and some of those jobs, coming back to the U.S.?
CURLEIGH: Yeah, I mean, we've already started it. And I think it's the classic, you know, one small step for insourcing and America, and one giant leap for Keen - where we decided to embark on a new category that we call Utility, which is our steel-toe shoe.
So when you think about a category of steel-toe, you think about built in America; you think about Americans building things. But also, what we recognize was when it comes to intellectual property and innovation, beyond the technical cost of the product, the cost of protecting your brand and some of your innovation is becoming increasingly more important. So...
SIEGEL: I'm surprised that you attach that much importance to intellectual property. I remember asking the manager of an American shoe plant about 25 years ago, how long does it take you from the time you steal the design in Paris, to the time that that ladies' shoe is in shoe stores? And the answer wasn't very huffy - it was a month to six weeks. I thought that shoe business is all about taking other people's designs.
CURLEIGH: Yeah. Well, I think when it comes to new categories and trying to, you know, say to our fans that we're going to bring you breakthrough innovation, we have to make sure we can control that innovation. And also, I think there's the balance point of innovation and quality control. So by building a factory here in Portland, Oregon, we were able to say we completely understand labor dynamics, overhead dynamics, the shift from manual to automation.
And as a result, not only for our own factory but when we speak with our other sourcing partners, we're much more educated to be able to make better decisions in the interest of, you know, cost reduction and quality improvement.
SIEGEL: Are we reaching a point where automation and computerization of production has reduced factory workforces by so much that wage differentials just don't matter that much anymore? If it's only 30 people, what's the big deal?
CURLEIGH: Yeah, I think we're getting there. And this always sounds a little controversial but one of the challenges that I think we see on a, you know, global economic level is that sometimes when labor is too cheap, there is no incentive to automate to improve productivity. So the kind of vision we had was, can we improve the quality of the job, the quality of the labor, and actually introduce some automation to improve productivity?
And what we're finding is that we're starting to see that balance point already at our factory in Portland.
SIEGEL: You speak of the fan base - I went to the Keen website, and there's an ethos to your company. You talk about hybrid lifestyle. And this has to do with work and recreation, and integrating our lives.
Do you think that that means that actually for people who buy Keen shoes or boots, the fact that it's made in America, you think, will actually be a plus; it's a marketing advantage to you?
CURLEIGH: I think to a certain fan, they actually do connect with the fact that we're a young company, and we're trying things. And just the fact that we have an effort and a very real business and brand effort that creates product in America, I think, is important.
SIEGEL: Well, Mr. Curleigh, thanks a lot for talking with us.
CURLEIGH: I appreciate it.
SIEGEL: That's James Curleigh, speaking to us from Portland, Oregon, where he is the CEO of Keen, which opened a factory in 2010 in Portland.
Copyright © 2012 National Public Radio®

Hat's Off: Sonja Rasula and State of UNIQUE

2011-12-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

At the State of Unique festival this weekend, I saw a ton of smart, crafty small businesses making cool stuff stateside. Started by Sonja Rasula, the great brain behind Unique LA, State of Unique's mission is simple. According to Sonja “I want to bring modern Made-in-America design to the masses. My goals are to help designers and small businesses grow and become sustainable, to support the local economy, and to teach shoppers the value of conscious consumerism.” The etsy-generation at its best, with inventive jewelry, clothes, stationary, foods that make you go, "Man, I should have thought of that!" Design Patriot has tried to cover companies that employ at least five Americans, either themselves or through their manufacturing, so these smaller artisans are out of our usual purview. So, it was inspiring to see so many creative and talented people embracing the US manufacturing revolution. And I got a lot of holiday shopping done from vendors I can feel good about!

Modernism Lives

2011-12-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Vessel USA Inc. was founded in 1998 with the purpose of reviving "stunningly simple planters and other ceramic designs that brought acclaim to the Architectural Pottery Collection", a Los Angeles company founded in 1950 by Max and Rita Lawrence. The spare, geometric pottery was a favorite of local mid-century architects. It was so forward thinking, the pottery was exhibited in MOMA as early as 1951. Vessel USA produces modern planters, containers, sculpture and garden accessories from its studio in San Diego, with an eye on the past and one on the future.

A Brooklyn Tradition

2011-11-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

A couple in Brooklyn started Hammersmith Copper Cookware out of a love for cooking, an appreciation for the durability and efficiency of copper, and an interest in bringing the glory of what they considered the best cookware to the public. After searching for some time to find copper cookware made in the states, they found it "hasn't been made in America for over a generation, but the last of it was made right here in Brooklyn." A series of happy accidents lead them to Jeff Herkes and his Bushwick shop, who at that time was fabricating the parts needed to restore the HighLine elevated rail line turned public park. "Jeff had acquired all the old chucks and other tooling for the Waldow line of copper cookware when he bought his fabricating shop in the 1980s. It was all there, along with the metal-working talent, ready to be resurrected."

HOLLA if you love Southern Style

2011-11-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

Holler Design is a small furniture making company in Tennessee. (if the name is familiar you may have seen them recently featured on fab.com)A collaboration of husband and wife team Matt and Melissa Alexander, two southerners who "have left home and returned with an imperative of what it means to be southern, and a desire to share that view with others." Inspired by rural forms and textures, their pieces are rustic, minimal, and pleasing in their simplicity and how the honor the wood. On their website they write, "Our objects exhibit a 'love of making,' retain a subsequent intrinsic value, and utilize a production process that is inherently sustainable, but which is grounded more in the tradition of craft than in the ‘green-washing’ of current systems of manufacturing."

Atomic Theory

2011-11-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

If that retro look is your thing, have I got the company for you: Atomic Living Design by Detschermitsch located near Denver in Englewood, CO. Husband and wife team Lisa and Jesse Detschermitsch have always loved the look of mid-century modern architecture and furnishings that recall the homes they grew up in. They were inspired to design and build their own line of "modern furnishings for the mid-century minded." Environmentally conscientious, they use low and very low VOC water-based lacquers and eco-friendly sheet goods wherever possible. Available for purchase online here.

Childhood Classics Still US-Made!

2011-11-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Original Wiffle Ball, Shelton, CT

Big Wheels, Cedar Rapids, IA

Jump Rope Store, Portland, OR

Slinky, Plymouth, MI

Louisville Slugger, Louisville, KY

Shrinky Dinks, North Lake, WI (vintage packaging shown)

Nok-Hockey from Carrom, Luddington, MI

Cabbage Patch Kids, Cleveland, GA

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, Hudson, OH

Original Red-Heel Sock Monkey from Fox River, Osage, IA

Vermont Teddy Bear, Shelburne, VT

Customize An American Classic

2011-11-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Not all New Balance sneakers are made in the US, but they are the only major sneaker brand that still makes a good percentage here. With five factories in New England - three in Maine and two in Massachusetts, New Balance maintains a commitment to US manufacturing. According to their website: "With a high-quality labor force, unique modular teams that are continually challenged to offer creative alternatives to foreign competition, and the confidence to be different, New Balance is able to survive and thrive, and take a leadership position in an industry that has sent most of its production overseas." We say kudos.
Now, you can support this commitment in a really fun way. They have made their classic US574 style fully customizable: with up to eight different colors of leather, an option of a leather back tab, up to eight different colors for the tongue tag, eight stitched characters per shoe, and nine color choices of embroidery thread. The base “N” is available in White, Navy or Black, while the top “N” and the shoe’s laces are available in nine colors. You might think you have to wait 4 to 6 weeks to get your shoes, nope! Your pair is shipped out within four to eight business days of ordering. There are endless combinations, so you can have a unique personalized take on a true American shoe!

More Maine Beauties

2011-10-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

From our research, I have come to know that Maine is the heart of beautiful blanket making in the US. I love that America still has regional specialties, we haven't all been flattened and "chain-stored" into being the same everywhere. Joining the ranks of some of the most lovely handwoven textiles I've ever seen, are the ones made by Swans Island. In the early 1990’s John and Carolyn Grace moved to Swans Island off the coast of Acadia National Park and commenced a small weaving operation using local wool. Leaving a life of being lawyers in Boston, they came to live out their dreams: creating wool blankets by hand using time-honored and still-remembered traditions. Their products are timeless, handsome, and classic. Price-wise, they are definitely on the, ahem, high end. But these are truly an investment in something that will bring you joy and warmth for many, many years.

For the Cowboy in All of Us

2011-10-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Even though Cowboy Cauldron founder Mike Bertelsen grew up in the high desert of the American West, where campfires were a part of life, it took a move to the DC area for him to fully understand his calling. When he began spending time in Virginia, Bertelsen became fascinated by colonial crafts and cooking, as well as the art of the blacksmith. This is where the first Cowboy Cauldron was born. Mike’s goal was to develop a fire pit that would not only function as a fire feature, but could be used as a portable cooking device, as well. The cauldron he made was a huge hit with friends and family both in DC and Utah, where he moved to raise his family. So much so that Bertelsen decided to start producing them in 2008. Now, there are three sizes available, each is handcrafted the old fashioned way, and totally made in America.

Better Belts

2011-10-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

These lovely belts come from Wiley Brothers, a small company in Virginia founded in 1999 started by brothers Marcus and Peter Wiley. The vision was (and is) to "create artisanal leather goods, applying the aesthetic and craftsmanship of fine equestrian tack and harness to our own belt designs." Their clever buckles are cast locally using the lost-wax investment casting method. Their belts are truly the essence of elegance, quality and utilitarianism.

Top Priority

2011-10-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

A lot of us know we should buy US made products to help support American manufacturing and to get a well-made product. We don't always do it. Just like we know we should protect our bodies and eat organically grown foods, but we don't always make that choice either. But when I had my son, suddenly I found myself buying only organic produce and hormone-free meat. It became clear to me that it is my responsibility to keep him as safe and healthy as I can. Well, the same goes for baby products. While we might not spring for a couch made in the US, we can certainly take the time to make sure that the teething ring we let our precious tots chew on is free from lead or mercury or other unknown dangers. Here are a couple companies in Southern California making great products you can trust for your little ones, all 100% made in the USA!

Phthalate-free, BPA-free, Lead-free, PVC-free teethers and Duckis from Dano Toys, Carlsbad, CA

Stuffed animals and lovees Moncalin, hand-stitched in Los Angeles

Eye on the Future, Nod to the Past

2011-10-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, in Doylestown, PA a small furniture company was founded. Every piece uses mortise and tenon joinery, hand-finishing, no assembly line, just hand-crafted goodness made from sustainably harvested domestic hardwoods. The company is Wren & Cooper, named for its founders, husband and wife team Mariah Wren and Mark Cooper. Wren graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004, with a BFA in furniture design and her schooling shows in the stunning retro-yet-modern pieces they turn out.

Darn Good Jeans Made in Downtown LA

2011-10-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles is having a true manufacturing resurgence, especially when it comes to apparel. This is a town that highly values fashion, after all. One shining example is Rogue Territory, a company dedicated to "preserving the trade of handcrafted goods and supporting the skilled artisans who employ creativity and manual dexterity to produce truly unique, one-of-a-kind pieces." Their artisanal take on jeans recalls the workmanship of American manufacturers of the early 20th century and they are hand-making their jeans and pants in that tradition. Great cuts, high quality denim, built to last, all manufactured in downtown Los Angeles.

Manned by Americans

2011-10-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Mannington is a fourth generation family-owned business headquartered in New Jersey. They are the only U.S. manufacturer of residential and commercial flooring that offers a full range of flooring solutions: resilient flooring manufactured at HQ in Jersey, hardwood and laminate made in North Carolina and Alabama, carpet made in Georgia, you get the idea. A truly ALL American company.

Future Family Heirlooms

2011-10-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

In a small rural shop in Minnesota, Eastvold Furniture builds finely crafted furniture from sustainable materials. They are timeless and beautiful, at home in either a loft or a farmhouse. They are built to last in the hopes that they will be past down to future generations. I wish I was inheriting some!

Cultivating Creativity Across the Country

2011-10-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

eco-kids started the way a lot of companies making kids' products do. Someone becomes a parent, sees a hole in the market for something they wish they could find for their child, and decides to make it. In 2008, Cammie and Kip (Jack and Maggie's parents) began making handmade art supplies to sell at farmers' markets around Southern California. Now eco-kids is a line of art supplies that gives children the "tools to create using non-toxic, natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging." All made in the US!

Durable, Simple, Functional

2011-10-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Heather tipped me off BaileyWorks Bags, a company out of New Hampshire, where we both used to live, that makes industrial strength, deceptively simple, good looking bags. As they write on their site, they are so durable, they "had to design new bags just so you would have to buy another one." Started in Portsmouth in 1993, (recently moved to Newmarket) after hearing a call for tough messenger bags for bike messengers, BaileyWorks decided to answer that call. Every bag is made by hand in America, no breakable parts, no fancy patterns. Just good solid American craftsmanship.

Fall Plaid Round-up

2011-10-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here in LA we like to pretend we have seasons. Yeah, it might have been nearly 100 degrees yesterday, but it will probably get slightly cooler. And making believe it is autumn gives us a chance to wear something a little cozier, something that goes with pumpkins and cider. For everyone else, there may actually be a nip in the air and these choice American-made styles work even better for that.

Woolrich Woolen Mills

Available from Mr. Porter or at these stores

Woolrich, Pennsylvania

Paul Bunyan Jac Shirt from Bemidji Woolen Mills

Bemidji, Minnesota

Board Shirt from Pendleton Woolen Mills

Portland, Oregon

Kromer Carryall from Stormy Kromer

Ironwood, MI

Wool Western Shirt from Filson

Seattle, Washington (Not everything is made in the US)

Northwoods Jacket from Wintergreen Northern Wear

Ely, Minnesota

Illuminating Design

2011-10-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a simple household item can be so beautifully designed that it borders on becoming art. The Cerno Group has elevated modern lighting and furniture to that level. Started in 2009 in Southern California, Cerno aims to "fuse quality, performance and resource efficiency with modern design," while keeping their manufacturing here. They blend form and function into sustainably-made, usable sculpture for your home.

AFFORDABLE ALERT: This Is (Not) A Decoy

2011-10-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

This is the real thing. A small company doing it SO right. Decoylab explains it best when they say they make "playful and creative, unique items that are not mass produced but still affordable." That's right. You don't always have to pay more to support American-made goods. Decoylab makes large selection of adorable and sustainable laser cut bamboo clocks, housewares and accessories. All of their products are made to order and each piece is lovingly hand-crafted in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ants in your Pants?

2011-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

The classic look of work pants never goes out of style. Rugged, simple, and just a little bad ass. But if you are a woman, one with a few feminine curves, those men's styles never quite fit right. That's why I love this little company, Red Ants Pants, started by outdoor enthusiast, Sarah Calhoun. (The name comes from a little piece of trivia: in ant colonies, women do all the work.) They make work pants for women, genius! Here is their explanation of how they solved the fit problems with existing work pants on the marketplace. They use cotton duck which is dyed and sent to Seattle where the manufacturers can proceed to cut out the patterns and sew the pants. The pants are then shipped to Headquarters in Montana. Gentlemen, if you are feeling left out, Red Ants Pants says although these pants are made for a woman, men often like them too.

You don't need a barn to have a Barn Light

2011-10-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Like so many of the best jobs, Bryan Scott started Barn Light Electric Company because it was his passion. A part-time hobby of searching through antique stores, estate sales, abandoned buildings, and garage sales looking for vintage lights to restore, Bryan soon realized this could be more than a pastime. In 2001, he found a true American manufacturer who could create barn lighting with the same high standards he held himself to. While this company has grown by leaps and bounds, all the products are still 100% manufactured in the US, headed up in Titusville, Florida.